Safety closure cap for aerosol dispenser cans



July 26, 1966 w. F. HIRSCH 3,262,607

SAFETY CLOSURE CAP FOR AEROSOL DISPENSER CANS Filed Nov. 23, 1964 {52b INVENTOR.

IIIIILI F BY g. H Sm ATFOR M EX United States Patent 3,262,607 SAFETY CLGSURE CAP FOR AEROSOL DISPENSER CANS Walter F. Hirsch, 6721 SW. 26th St., Miami, Fla.

Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 413,277

9 Claims. (Cl. 222-182) This invention relates to closure caps for aerosol dispenser cans and is directed particularly to a safety closure cap so designed as to prevent removal and dispensing of the can contents by young children.

A wide variety of liquid household cleaners, insecticides, paints, cosmetics, etc. are commonly packaged in pressurized cans equipped for dispensing the contained liquid as an aerosol spray. Since many of these spray products are injurious to the lungs if inhaled, or toxic if applied to the skin, or otherwise dangerous if improperly used, they present a real hazard if left within the reach of young children unaware of the dangers involved. These dangers are enhanced in View of the fact that once a young child has learned how to remove the can cover and cause spraying by pushing down on the spray head or button, the fascinating nature and sound of the spray 'will normally result in his continued playing with the dispenser until a substantial amount, if not all, of the contents have been discharged in his immediate vicinity.

It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide a safety closure cap for aerosol dispenser cans which, unless removed in a particular Way that cannot be duplicated by a child young enough to be unaware of the dangerous nature of aerosol sprays, renders the spray mechanism inoperable to prevent discharge of the contents.

A more particular object is to provide a safety closure cap of the above nature including, within its underside, a collar so disposed as to encircle the base of the spray head or button when in covering position on the can, and cooperative with the spray head to engage with it so as to remove it upon removal of the cover unless the cover is first rotated into a partciular position with respect to the spray head in a manner similar to that used in unscrewing an ordinary threaded container closure cap.

Still another object is to provide a safety closure cap of the character described which is readily adaptable to aerosol spray dispenser cans and operating mechanism currently in use.

Yet another object is to provide a safety closure cap of the above nature which will be simple in structure, fool-proof in operation, easy to use and well adapted to economic manufacture by mass production techniques.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views;

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a typical aerosol dispenser can showing, in vertical cross-section, a safety closure cap embodying the invention aflixed thereto and in locking relation with respect to the spray head;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the spray head and closure cap, in relatively locked relation as in FIG. 1, illustrating mechanical details thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vie-w of the mechanism shown in FIG. 2, but as seen from the top;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, but showing the spray head and closure cap collar in relatively unlocked relation;

FIG. 6 illustrates, in vertical section, a modified embodiment of a safety closure cap for spraying through a side opening in the cap without removal thereof; and

FIG. 7 illustrates still another modification of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 10 designates a typical metal aerosol dispenser can of the type currently in general use, the same being formed at its upper end with an annular bead 11 joining the cylindrical container portion 12 of the can with a rounded dome portion 13 of decreased diameter the upper end of which is circular and forms a sealing joint with a central valve mechanism, indicated generally at 14, through the center of which extends a short coaxial valve tube 15. The valve mechanism is such that when the valve tube 15 is pushed inwardly, the valve is opened to discharge the liquid contents under gaseous pressure. A valve head 16, having an axial bore 17 for press fitting for frictional fit and retention on the valve tube 15, is formed with a reduced diameter extension recess 17a communicating with a small atomizing orifice 18 in the side of the valve head 16 for discharging the aerosol spray through a side opening 19 of greatly increased diameter in said valve head. As illustrated in FIGS, 2 and 3, the valve head 16 is formed with a front-to-back, downwardly-inclined top surface 20 having transverse ridges facilitating good frictional contact therewith of the thumb when pressing down on said valve head for actuating the spray mechanism. An arrowhead 21 molded or otherwise impressed on the top of the valve head 16 indicates the front thereof to aid the user in directing the spray.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the valve head 16, instead of being completely cylindrical in outer form, is cut away along opposite sides to provide opposed, flat, parallel side wall portions 22, 23 between opposed,

. arcuate side wall portions 24, 25 defining a cylinder coaxial with the central axial bore 17. The lower ends of the arcuate side wall portions 24, 25 are formed with a first pair of opposed arcuate flange portions 26, 27 of slightly increased diameter, which extend at their lower ends into a second pair of opposed arcuate flange portions 28, 29 of somewhat greater increased diameter. Corresponding ends of the flange portions 28, 29 (the anti-clockwise ends as seen in FIG. 4) are cut away along a curve, as indicated at 30, 31, respectively, in FIG. 4, said cut away portions extending somewhat short of the junctures of their corresponding arcuate wall portions 24, 25 with the adjacent flat wall portions 22, 23.

The safety closure cap 32 embodying the invention is generally cap-shaped and integrally formed, preferably of a synthetic plastic material, to provide a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical side wall portion 33, and a top wall portion 34. The outer end of the closure cap side Wall portion 33 is outwardly-offset to provide an annular flange portion 35 of such size as to seat against the dispenser can annular bead 11, and a short, annular skirt portion 36 overhanging said bead when the closure cap is in place on the can. The inner surface of the skirt portion 36 is formed about its periphery with a plurality of rounded arcuate protrusions 37 which snap under the dispenser cap bead 11 to removably hold-the cap 32 in place. 1

The top Wall portion 34 of the safety closure cap 32 has a flat annular outer portion 38, the inner periphery of which merges into an inwardly-stepped, concentric inner annular portion 39 to provide a circular seat receiving a removable flat disc 40. The inwardly-stepped juncture between the outer annular portion 38 and the inner annular portion 39 define a circular shoulder 41 serving to hold the disc in place by frictional contact therewith. The disc 40 is preferably provided with a small central opening 42 facilitating its removal by the use of any pointed object, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The inner periphery of the inner annular poraaeaeov tion 39 of the top of the closure cap 32 merges into the base of an inwardly directed frusto-conical wall portion 43 the outer end of which is integrally formed with a collar 44 having a concentric, circular outer wall portion 45. The collar 44 is formed with an interior through opening 44a complemental to the peripheral shape of the lower end of the valve head 16 for passing over said valve head at certain rotative positions with respect thereto. To this end, the collar opening 44a has opposed, arcuate, interior walls 46, 47 defining a cylinder of slightly greater diameter than the diameter defined by the second pair of arcuate flange portions 28, 29 of the valve head 16, and opposed, parallel side wall portions 48, 49 and 50, 51 spaced slightly greater than the spacing between the parallel side wall portions 22, 23 of said valve head. The inner ends of the side wall portions 48, t and 49, 51 extend into arcuately recessed portions 52 and 53, respectively, which arcuately recessed portions define a concentric circle of such diameter as to permit free passage of the first pair of arcuate flange portions 26, 27 of the valve head 16. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, central portions of the arcuately recessedportions 52, 53 along the axial length of the collar 44 are formed with arcuate grooves 54-, 55, respectively, of such width and depth as to receive therein in interfitting engagement, respective ones of the second pair of arcuate flange portions 28, 29 of the valve head 16. The rear ends of the grooves 54, 55 (the ends facing the anti-clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 4) do not extend into their respective adjacent side wall portions 48, 51, but curve inwardly to provide curved abutment wall portions 56, 57 complemental in shape to the curved cut-away portions 30, 21 at the ends of the arcuate flange portions 28, 29 of the valve head 16.

In use it will be seen that the safety closure cap 32 can be fitted to the dispenser can only when the collar opening 44a of the collar 44 is at a particular rotary position with respect to the valve head 16, as illustrated in FIG. 5, permitting said collar to fit down over said valve head. Such position can readily be found by turning the closure cap less than one-half turn while fitting it to the dispenser can, after which it will be snapped in place over the annular bead 11. The safety closure cap 32 will then be turned clockwisely for at least one-quarter turn to cause the arcuate grooves 54, 55 to pass from their positions as illustrated in FIG. 5, over the second pair of arcuate flange portions 28, 29 of the valve head 16 for interengagement therewith as illustrated in FIG. 4. Once the flange portions 28, 29 are fully received within the arcuate grooves 54, 55 with their curved cut-away portions 30, 31 in seating engagement with their respective curved abutment wall portions 56, 57, further clockwise turning of the closure cap will merely rotate the valve head 16 on its valve tube 15, with which it is in frictional interfitting engagement as described above. To remove the safety closure cap it is necessary to reverse the procedure in putting it on, i.e., turn the cover anti-clockwisely by at least a quarter turn and then pull it off the annular can bead 11. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the side wall portions 48, 51 of the collar 44 will abut parallel side wall portions 22, 23 of the valve head 16 to limit the relative turning thereof at open position.

The safety feature of the closure cap resides in the fact that it is extremely unlikely thata small child, even if capable of doing so, would turn the cap in the proper direction by a suflicient amount (at least one-quarter turn) before pulling off the cap. Therefore, he will pull a the cap off, if at all, while its collar 44 is still interengaged with the valve head 16, thereby at the same time pulling said valve head off its valve tube to be retained within the enclosure aflorded by the frusto-conical wall portion 43 and disc of said cap. The removal of the valve head 16 prevents discharge of the can contents by finger action for the reason that the act of pushing down upon the open end of the valve tube 15 automatically seals it off.

If the valve head 16, because of misuse of the closure cap, should fall loose within the frusto-conical chamber, it can be retrieved simply by removing the disc 49 and refitting on the valve tube 15. Directions for operation of the safety closure cap can conveniently be printed on the disc 48.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of the invention wherein the frusto-conical wall portion 43a of the safety closure cap 32a is provided with a first opening 58, and the side wall portion 33a of said cap is provided with a second opening 59 in radial alignment with said first opening; and wherein the disc 40a is in the form of a flexible diaphragm. In this modification of the invention, the valve head 16 can be pressed through the flexible diaphragm 46a to spray through the openings 58 and 59 when the closure cap i turned to open position, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Turning the closure cap away from open position, as described above in connection with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, turns it out of register with the valve head orifice. In such position, the collar 44b will be engaged with the spray head 16, preventing its being depressed through the diaphragm 46a.

FIG. 7 illustrates still another modification of the invention wherein the safety closure cap 32]) is formed with a concentric interior tubular wall 64 defining a cylindrical recess of such size as to freely receive the spray head 16,

and having at its outer end a collar portion 61 of the same interior configuration as that of the collars 44 and 44b described above. In this embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the spray head 16, if removed with its cap, will be held captive in the cap recess, and will automatically be fitted back on its valve tube when the cap is replaced on the can.

While I have illustrated and described herein only three forms in which my invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that these forms are given by way of example only, and not in a limiting sense. My invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a safety closure cap for cylindrical aerosol dispenser cans of the type having a pressure actuated central valve mechanism at one end for receiving in coaxially interfitting frictional engagement a valve head having a sidewardly-directed atomizing orifice, the combination comprising, a valve head member having a side- Wardly-directed atomizing orifice receivable on said central valve mechanism and secured thereto by frictionally interfitting engagement, a cover member providing enclosing means for said valve head, said cover member having means for engagement with said valve head when in certain first rotary positions with respect thereto and for disengagement with said valve head when in a certain second rotary position with respect thereto.

2. In a safety closure cap for cylindrical aerosol dispenser cans of the type having a pressure actuated central valve mechanism at one end for receiving in coaxially interfitting frictional engagement a valve head having a sidewardly-directed atomizing orifice, the combination comprising, a valve head member having a sidewardlydirected atomizing orifice receivable on said central valve mechanism and secured thereto by frictionally interfitting engagement, a cover member providing enclosing means for said valve head, said cover member having a peripheral skirt portion, means at the outer end of said skirt portion for engaging the upper rim of a cylindrical aerosol can, said cover member having means for engagement with said valve head member when in certain first rotary positions with respect thereto and for disengagement with said valve head member when in a certain second rotary position with respect thereto.

3. A safety closure cap for cylindrical aerosol dispenser cans as defined in claim 2 including an opening in said peripheral skirt portion, said opening being in register with the sidewardly-directed orifice of said valve head member when said cover member is in said certain second rotary position with respect to said valve head member, said cover member having a resilient portion through which said valve head member can be manually depressed for spraying through said opening.

4. A safety closure cap for cylindrical aerosol dispenser cans as defined in claim 2 wherein said cover member is cup-shaped and wherein said valve head enclosing means comprises a top wall integrally-formed with said peripheral skirt portion and having a concentric, inwardlydirected, integral frusto-conical wall portion, the inner end of said frusto-conical wall portion extending into an annular collar member seatable over said valve head in surrounding relation.

5. A safety closure cap for cylindrical aerosol dispenser cans as defined in claim 4 wherein said valve head member engagement means comprises a pair of opposed flanges formed on said valve head member, and a pair of complementary, opposed recesses formed Within the internal wall of said collar member and in register with said flanges when said cover member is engaged on said aerosol can.

6. A safety closure cap for cylindrical aerosol dispenser cans as defined in claim 5 wherein said recesses are closed at corresponding ends to limit the rotary movement therein of respective ones of said flanges when said cover member is rotated with respect to the aerosol can.

7 A safety closure cap for cylindrical aerosol dispenser cans as defined in claim 6 including stop means for preventing rotational movement of said cover member with respect to said valve head member when said cover member is rotated beyond said certain second rotary position from the direction of said first rotary positions.

8. A safety closure cap for cylindrical aerosol dispenser cans as defined in claim 7 including a disc, and means in said cover member for receiving said disc in enclosing relation with respect to the chamber defined by said inwardly-directed frusto-conical wall portion.

9. A safety closure cap for cylindrical aerosol dispenser cans as defined in claim 8 wherein said disc receiving means Comprises an annular shoulder formed at the juncture at said top Wall of said frustoconical wall portion, for frictional engagement with the peripheral edge of said disc.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1956 Ayres 222-394 X 11/1960 Cochran 222-182 

1. IN A SAFETY CAP FOR CYLINDRICAL AEROSAL DISPENSER CANS OF THE TYPE HAVING A PRESSURE ACTUATED CENTRAL VALVE MECHANISM AT ONE END FOR RECEIVING IN COAXIALLY INTERFITTING FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT A VALVE HEAD HAVING A SIDEWARDLY-DIRECTED ATOMIZING ORIFICE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, A VALVE HEAD MEMBER HAVING A SIDEWARDLY-DIRECTED ATOMIZING ORIFICE RECEIVABLE ON SAID CENTRAL VALVE MECHANISM AND SECURED THERETO BY FRICTIONALLY INTERFITTING ENGAGEMENT, A COVER MEMBER PROVIDING ENCLOSING MEANS FOR SAID VALVE HEAD, SEAID COVER MEMBER HAVING MEANS FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID VALVE HEAS WHEN IN CERTAIN FIRST ROTARY POSITIONS WITH RESPECT THERETO AND FOR DISENGAGEMENT WITH SAID VALVE HEAD WHEN IN A CERTAIN SECOND ROTARY POSITION WITH RESPECT THERETO. 